My earliest memory of football in Whittlesford is in the mid 1930’s. We had one team competing in the Foxton and District League.

There was a village team much earlier than this, which I became aware of from older village residents long since no longer with us. From this information I would date this from about the end of World War 1, 1918. The team used to travel to away games by horse and cart. Returning home they would stop at a pub (nothing changes), the youngest member of the team staying outside to look after the horse.

The 1930’s team was reasonably successful and in the 1938/39 season reached the final of the League Cup, playing Foxton in the final. Whittlesford won the match 2-1, but it was adjudged that Whittlesford had lost the cup on goal difference and it was awarded to Foxton.

For many years Whittlesford villagers claimed the team had been robbed and relations between the two villages were strained.

For some years during this period games were played on the field at the Whippletree Road end of Vicarage Lane (The Croak) currently farmed by Robert Maynard.

In 1938, Henry Gage Spicer purchased a field from Charles Jennings, situated in Vicarage Lane, and donated it to the village to use as a recreation ground. Henry Gage Spicer was the Managing Director of Spicers Ltd.

However, before the ground could be brought into use, the Second World War started (September 3rd 1939), and all organised football was suspended for the duration of the war.

During the war several Whittlesford lads played in a team organised by Sawston Youth Club, playing friendly games. Games that I remember against Italian prisoners of war at Duxford Grange, R.A.F. Duxford and The Lees School in Cambridge, although I am aware that there were many more.

After seven years league football was resumed in the 1946/47 season. Whittlesford were placed in Division 1 of the Cambs league (equal to Senior A as there was only one premier league at that time). After a couple of seasons a reserve team was formed and played in Division 3A, the lowest league at that time. Both teams struggled in their respective leagues, with very little success. The Cambs Junior Cup and the Foster Cup were entered, but the team never progressed beyond the early rounds.

All home games in this period were played in Vicarage Lane, the "Greyhound" pub which was on the corner of High Street / West End (now White Lodge) was used as a changing room.

At the end of the 1952/53 season the club was disbanded owing to lack of support.

For a time the recreation ground was little used until the Parish Council received a request from Shelford Rugby Club to use the pitch for their reserve team. At that time Shelford Rugby Club has to share Great Shelford recreation ground with the football club (before the donation of the Davey Field). So for a few seasons Shelford Rugby Club Reserves used the recreation ground.

In 1960 it was decided to reform the Football Club, once again the club entered one team in Division 4 Cambs League, at this time playing in Vicarage Lane and using the Greyhound for changing rooms. The first season was quite successful and won promotion to Division 3.

At the start of the 1962/63 season the club moved to The Lawn, where they have since remained. During that season there was no pavilion, so the Mens Institute at the Memorial Hall was used for changing rooms.

At the start of the 1963 season the club was so low in funds that they could not afford to rent the back room of the Institute for a committee meeting. A meeting was held at 6 Mill Lane to discuss this serious situation.

At this time The Beatles group were creating a big impact on the pop music of the time. It was decided that to raise funds a dance would be organised and held in the Memorial Hall. A Cambridge group called "Squad 5" which played Beatles style music was hired at a cost of £15. The entrance fee to the dance was five shillings (25p).

No less than 320 young people attended and packed into the hall, (present limit 199). After all expenses were paid a clear profit of £45 was made, a very substantial sum in those days, which put the club on a sound footing.

In the 1965/66 season the club won promotion to Division 2. The club continued to be quite successful and at the end of the 1960’s entered a second team in the Sunday League. The highlight of those seasons was the local derby against Spicers. So keen was the rivalry, that two seasons running, the referee failed to appear. Many said that they were afraid to turn up. On both occasions a member of the club was appointed referee.

In one match, when things started to get a little out of hand, he had to threaten to send his own son off, playing for Whittlesford and his trade union representative, playing for Spicers.

In the early seventies, the Saturday team reached the final of the Bambridge Cup losing 2-1, the match being played at the Atlas Sports Ground, Melbourn. The team continued to compete in Division 2.

In 1975, the first boys team was formed aged 15 years and under. They played friendly matches. Most home games were refereed by the same club member mentioned earlier.

The club continued into the 1980’s running smoothly without achieving anything spectacular. A further boys team was formed, some of the players of that team are still playing for the club this season 1999/2000.

At the end of the 1984/85 season a special dinner was organised and held at the memorial hall to mark the 25th Anniversary of the reformed club. Former players, some travelling from Northern Ireland, attended and a great evening was enjoyed by all.

By the end of the 80’s, the first team were playing in Division 1, and the reserves were in Division 3.

The club then entered a phase which was to be the most successful in the club’s history.

In the 1990/91 season the first team won promotion to the Premier B Division. The next season 91/92, they again won promotion to Premier A, the highest status achieved in the Club’s history.

In 92/93, the club found it a struggle in the top division and at the end of the season were relegated. However there was some consolation, the club being awarded the Cambs FA Cup for their Fair Play Award. 1993-96 the club continued to compete in Premier B.

During this six years, the team appeared in five Foster Cup finals, winning the cup on three times.

At the start of the 96/97 the Premier B league was split into two, Senior A and B, due to the Hunts League clubs joining the Cambs League. Whittlesford had finished in the top half of the league, so were placed in Senior A, where they have continued to compete to date.

Throughout the 90’s, the reserves have also enjoyed considerable success, alternating between Division 2 and Division 1. They also appeared in a Bambridge Cup Final, played at Melbourn in a thunderstorm, narrowly losing to Sawston Rovers.

After being relegated to Division 2 in 1997/98, they achieved a feat never before achieved in the history of the Club in 1998/99, playing the whole season without losing a league match, winning the division 2A Championship and promotion back to Division 1.

Finally, I would pay a tribute to all the officials, players and supporters who have enjoyed the success and failures over the years. Too numerous to mention by name. For it is in village football one finds the true amateurs, who play for the love of the game and playing for the privilege to do so.

In writing this last paragraph, I am reminded of those famous words by Newbolt.

For when the greatest scorer

Comes to write against your name

He writes not that you won or lost

But how you played the game.

G Rusted

September 1999